At the moment, we get about 70% of our energy from fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas. But there are two main problems with fossil fuels. Firstly, they release CO₂ when we burn them. And secondly, fossil fuels take millions of years to form and the supply is limited.
But fossil fuels are not the only sources of energy. Alternative energy is energy generated from any source other than ‘traditional’ fossil fuels and which doesn’t damage our environment. The sun (solar energy), wind (eolic energy), water (hydroelectric energy), tides and waves (tidal and wave power) are all alternative energy sources. They are also called renewable energies because they won’t run out.
There are other sources of energy such as biofuel and nuclear power, but these are not strictly alternative energy sources. Biofuel is a term that includes a wide variety of fuels obtained from biomass (carbon-based biological material, usually plants), so it releases CO₂ in the same way as fossil fuels. Nuclear power doesn’t produce CO₂, but it does produce waste which can stay toxic for 240,000 years.
Alternative energy is also classed as sustainable energy – this means we can use it now without affecting the supply in the future. Biofuels can also be sustainable, but only when the biological material is used more slowly than it grows. Climate change and global warming, together with high oil prices and the risk of nuclear contamination, are making renewable energy sources more and more attractive. The production of alternative energy is growing very rapidly, particularly in Europe, Asia, and the United States. It is estimated that 16% of all energy now comes from renewable resources.
(Adapted from tieng Anh 12 – Think)

Plastic is a material we use every day. The first plastics were made more than 100 years ago from parts of plants. Plastics are now made from oil, coal and natural gas. We are using up these things so fast that the Earth’s supplies may run out. Because of this, scientists are investigating new ideas for making plastics from plants such as sweet potato, bamboo and flax.
Things made from plastic can be useful for people but bad for the planet. Some plastics can last for a long time without wearing out, and can be difficult to get rid of when they are not needed. They can remain in rubbish dumps called landfill sites for hundreds of years. Landfills can be smelly, ugly, and harmful to our planet.
Recycling is a good way to get rid of unwanted plastics. Recycled waste materials can be used again to make new products. This can be difficult as different types of plastic need to be recycled in different ways. Some kinds of plastics can be melted down and used to make new things such as bags and bottles. Others can be made into fibers (strands of material) for clothing.
Another way to protect the environment is to use canvas bags for shopping rather than plastic ones. A lot of plastic objects can also be reused. Plastic bottles can be refilled many times, rather than throwing them away once they are empty. Unwanted plastic goods such as CDs and toys can be sold or given away to charity shops.
(Adapted from: https://www.esolcourses.com)

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no – it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfilment.
The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but one season in the tree’s life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are – and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life – can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfilment of your fall.
Don’t judge a life by one difficult season. Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
(Adapted from https://www.beliefnet.com)